Tshiluba (or Ciluba, also called Luba-Kasai) is the fourth national language of the Democratic Republic of Congo, after French, Lingala, and Kikongo. Spoken by approximately 6 to 8 million people (Ethnologue) mainly in the Kasai provinces (Kasai-Central and Kasai-Oriental), Tshiluba is also a lingua franca across a large part of central and southern DRC.

A Bantu language of the Luba family, Tshiluba has a remarkable particularity: it is spoken by two distinct communities, the Luluwa and the Baluba of Kasai, who merged their linguistic varieties to create a common standard. This linguistic unification reflects the Congolese peoples' capacity to build bridges.

Discover our Central African language resources and our Tshiluba language page to continue your exploration.

Basic Greetings in Tshiluba

Hello: Moyo

The universal greeting in Tshiluba is Moyo (pronounced mo-yo). This word literally means "life" / "health" , saying hello in Tshiluba means wishing life to the other person. It is profound and beautiful.

Response: Moyo , simply return the same greeting.

Or more fully: Moyo weh (mo-yo wé) , "Life to you too"

Greetings by Time of Day

Morning:

  • Buela bua lunyi (boué-la boua lou-nyi) , "Good morning (good rising)"
  • Response: Ee, moyo (é, mo-yo) , "Yes, hello / life"

Evening:

  • Lala buimpe (la-la boui-mpé) , "Good night" (literally "sleep well")

How Are You?

Wakuya bua neni ? (wa-kou-ya boua né-ni) , "How are you?"

Positive response: Buimpe (boui-mpé) , "Well / Good"

Or: Nda buimpe (nda boui-mpé) , "I'm well"

Pronunciation Guide

Tshiluba is a Bantu tonal language. Key features:

  • Vowels are pure and open
  • bw is a labialized consonant (combine "b" and "w")
  • Double vowels are lengthened
  • Tones (high and low) change word meaning
Word Pronunciation Meaning
Moyo mo-yo Hello / Life
Buimpe boui-mpé Fine / Good
Buela boué-la Good morning
Matondo ma-ton-do Thank you
Welela wé-lé-la Welcome

Respect and Cultural Context

In Tshiluba culture, greeting someone with Moyo is acknowledging their very existence , their life. This depth makes every greeting meaningful.

Respectful titles:

  • Muena (moué-na): person (neutral respectful term)
  • Nkaka: grandfather / elder
  • Nkoko: grandmother / elder

Quick Reference

Expression Pronunciation Translation Context
Moyo mo-yo Hello / Life Universal
Moyo weh mo-yo wé Hello to you too Response
Buimpe boui-mpé Fine Response to "how are you"
Buela bua lunyi boué-la boua lou-nyi Good morning Morning
Lala buimpe la-la boui-mpé Good night Nighttime

Saying Moyo to a Tshiluba speaker carries the weight of wishing them life itself. In learning this language, you touch one of the most profound greeting traditions in Central Africa.

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Sources and References

Further Reading